I don't leave many reviews, but this time I felt compelled to actually take the time to write one. My experience dealing with Universal Roofing & Contractors ( URC ) was actually quite painless which in this day and age is quite a surprise. I contacted URC to get an estimate for redoing my roof. I was contacted the same day by Robert Collins. We chatted on the phone and I felt comfortable speaking with Robert, we scheduled an initial sales meeting at our house. Robert came over and went up on the roof and took the necessary measurements and looked for any damage. Later we sat down and discussed what he had found. Robert explained in layman's term what needed to be done. My roof was approximately 25 yrs old and in sad shape. Robert said he found a couple areas where the plywood was soft and more than likely the cause for the several leaks I was experiencing. Robert wrote out what needed to be done and what the estimated cost would be. My chimney needed to be rebuilt which i was aware of. Robert helped me with the necessary paperwork. Upon agreeing with the estimate I was contacted by Raven Montero the product Coordinator for my job. She explained what would be done and how it was scheduled. She kept me posted as to who would be arriving and at what time. Once the start date was finalized I was contacted by Installation Product Management Mike Ramos who took complete control on-site and made sure everything was done on time and Correctly. Mike was on the roof checking and rechecking every inch of the roof to make sure everything was done correctly. He found and showed me by pictures every bad spot they found after taking off all the old shingles. One problem area was the chimney which needed to be rebuilt. Mike explained this is where the main leak was. I had searched for years where the roof might have be leaking into my kitchen. I really appreciated the attention to detail Mike showed. Both Robert & Mike can only be described as real Professionals and URC is lucky to have such dedicated team members. I would highly recommend URC to my family and friends. Tim & Linda Shea
Roofing Company in Clermont, FL
Storm bands, humidity, and relentless Central Florida sun — roofs in Clermont earn their keep. Universal has been roofing Florida homes since 1993.
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I wanted to mention publicly this company that really does stand behind their work, Universal Roof and Contracting. Having had a complete roof replacement a few years ago, on a complex roof, recently we noticed some shingle pieces on the ground. Damian came out right away to inspect and determined some of the ridge caps had blown off. After the assessment, the Operations Manager Devon, approved the repair of all damaged pieces without charges and demonstrated their dedicated commitment to customer satisfaction. A special thanks to Devon and Damian for making this situation resolve to complete customer satisfaction. I can recommend Universal Roof and Contracting without reservation, quality product, quality installation and highest quality service after the sale. S.M. Feiner Orlando
Cory Callahan was the person who came out and sold me on Universal doing my roof. His manner just made you feel you would be taken care of thru the process. The crew working on the roof were so efficient and worked as a team. The roof would have taken just one day but I had to have quite a bit of wood replaced. They cleaned up so well. No old shingles or trash around house and best part no roof nails. The individual who ran the job was on top of everything. A roof is a big investment and Universal realizes that as does Cory. In today’s world when you find a sales person that is trustworthy and honest, consider yourself lucky. Cory is just that person. I love my roof.
The crews for this project were very friendly and professional. The project manager was always accessible for any questions or concerns. I would highly recommend Universal Roofing, as their work was excellent and they resolved any issues post completion
Mike Emrich was our sales representative. Met with us at our home and was excellent and very helpful. Mike walked us through every step and stayed in contact with us the whole way. Olga Campos was a very helpful operations manager. Great with communication whenever it was needed. Services were perfect and done right on time! Thank you universal roofing!!
Everyone I have dealt with has been fantastic and helped to get our roof replaced in a timely manner. A special shout out to Mike Ramos, who followed up with us after the project was completed and we had a few questions. He was friendly, informative, and flexible with scheduling.
If you are consider a roofing contractor, highly recommend Universal Roof and Contracting. Entire team was professional, knowledgable, and honest. Starting with salesman John Lasine to project lead Brian Bower, the level of service has met my expectations. Had a minor leak on skylight 6 months later and they had someone out the same day to address, which speaks volumes to their integrity. There are many roofing contractors out there but if you want one that stands behind their work URC is the one to choose.
Tony Contreras and Bill Fuqua were a pleasure to deal with. I am really satisfied with how this roof replacement went, from start to finish. I highly recommend Universal Roof & Contracting.
The installation process was outstanding. The crew removed my tile roof in two days, installed the underlayment in two and lastly the tile in two days. Project manager set expectations, provided daily updates and when I raised issues, they were handled quickly and in a professional manner.
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Universal Roof & Contracting serves Clermont with every major roofing service — repair, replacement, inspections, storm response, gutters, and all four mainstream roof systems — from our Greater Orlando office. Family-owned since 1993, BBB-accredited with an A+ rating, and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred. This page is the whole picture in one place; every section links to the full service behind it.
What Clermont Does to a Roof
Every roofing decision in Clermont traces back to three forces, and the numbers behind them show why installation quality matters here.
Sun
Strong sun breaks down shingle asphalt and fades finishes over time, so Florida roofs need regular checks.
Humidity
Inland Florida trades salt for humidity: algae grows on shaded slopes, and poor attic ventilation traps heat and moisture under the roof.
Storms
Summer squall lines and the occasional named storm bring hard, wind-driven rain that finds every weak detail.
51.45"
annual rainfall at the Orlando Intl Ap station
57%
of it falls June through September
8.05"
in June alone — the peak month
NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals (USW00012815)
Roof Repair in Clermont
Roof damage in Clermont often starts small and moves fast once water finds a path. Catching it early is the whole game.
We run repair crews through Lake County's hill country year-round. The visit covers the damage plus the field, flashing, and penetrations around it — repairs that buy years beat replacements that weren't necessary yet.
Emergencies get tarped same-visit where access allows, with the permanent fix documented in photos behind it.
Wind-lifted tabs
One good gust finds every marginal fastener. Small patch now, or decking work later.
Granules in the gutters
Shingle surfaces shedding — the field is aging, and it's time to watch it.
Water marks inside
The drip point is almost never below the entry point. Finding the real path is the job.
Flashing and fastener wear
A common leak point, and one Florida weather works on early.
Roof Replacement
What actually drives a replacement quote — and how concealed damage is handled if tear-off uncovers it.
A completed Universal replacement — one to three days on most homes.
A replacement here isn't a shingle swap — it's a system: decking inspected once opened, underlayment and ventilation installed to the manufacturer's actual specification, flashing detailed at every transition. That's what lets an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor (fewer than 1% of roofing contractors hold the tier) back the work with warranties most roofers can't offer.
You see the whole scope line by line before signing, and the approved price is the built price unless tear-off uncovers concealed damage no one could see — which you approve before we fix it. Most Clermont homes are finished in one to three days. If the roof edge is also near end-of-life, we'll tell you, and doing soffit, fascia, and gutters with the roof saves a second mobilization.
Size, pitch & complexity
Cut-up roofs with dormers and valleys take longer than simple gables — and price accordingly.
Tear-off & decking
How many layers come up, and what the decking looks like once exposed. You approve anything it reveals.
The material system
Shingle, metal, tile, or slate — specified for Florida exposure, not upsold.
Flashing & ventilation
The details that separate a code-minimum job from one that reaches its rated life.
Every Clermont replacement starts with the free inspection.
Roof Inspections
Check your roof twice a year, in spring and fall, plus after any major blow. Our inspection is free, documented, and pressure-free.
Field & fasteners
Wear, granule loss, and fastener condition across the whole covering.
Flashing & penetrations
Common leak points, so we check every boot, valley, and transition.
The roof edge
Soffit, fascia, and gutters for rot, separation, and pest entry.
The attic side
Moisture staining, ventilation problems, and daylight where there shouldn't be any.
Findings come back as photographs and a written condition report — not a verbal opinion from the driveway. Many inspections end with "you're fine, here's what to watch," and the report is yours whether or not you ever hire us. If you're buying or selling in Lake County, the same visit produces the roof documentation the transaction needs, from a licensed contractor rather than a checklist service.
Storm Damage in Clermont
Being inland doesn't excuse a roof in Clermont. Irma crossed the middle of the state as a hurricane, and Milton brought hurricane-force gusts to Central Florida. After it passes, a five-minute ground check tells you whether to call.
01 Stay off the roof
Post-storm decks hide soft spots. Everything below can be checked from the ground.
02 Field, ridge, edges
Scan all three from the yard — wind works the perimeter and peaks hardest.
03 Gutters tell the truth
Granules, torn shingle pieces, detached sections — the evidence collects there.
04 Inside, look up
Ceiling corners and closets show water first, sometimes days later.
05 Date, photograph, call
Your ground photos plus our documented assessment make the complete record.
Irma
crossed Central Florida as a hurricane; minor to moderate damage to many structures, widespread tree damage (NOAA/NHC TCR AL112017)
Milton
hurricane-force gusts in Central Florida near the track; 14.83" of rain recorded near Orlando (NOAA/NHC TCR AL142024)
Storm response here works in two speeds: immediate protection (tarps and temporary seals, same visit where access allows) and documented assessment (photographs, findings, and repair scope in writing). No scare tactics, no inflated damage lists. We have been roofing in Florida since 1993.
Residential Roofing
Drive Clermont and you'll see many shingle roofs. Sometimes that's the right call; sometimes it's just the default. Four things decide which.
68.1% of occupied homes in Clermont are owner-occupied, and the median owner-occupied home value is $418,400 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, 2020–2024). Ours is the math of protecting that investment: the right system, installed to specification, maintained on a schedule.
We install every mainstream system — shingle, metal, tile, and flat — so the recommendation follows your house and budget, not whichever material a contractor happens to sell. The full comparison is below.
The house & neighborhood
Age, style, and what the street is built around — a roof has to belong where it lives.
Your ownership horizon
Selling in five years and staying thirty produce different right answers.
Budget, now vs. 30 years
Upfront cost against lifetime cost — repairs, energy, and how many more roofs you'll buy.
Installation quality
The same materials last longer or fail early depending on underlayment, ventilation, and flashing work.
Not sure which of these your roof needs?
The free inspection answers it with photos and a written report.
Commercial Roofing
A commercial roof in Clermont protects inventory, equipment, and people, and it is built under the Florida Building Code, rated among the strongest of the hurricane-coast states by IBHS.
Think in decades, not years: compare lifetime cost, not just this quarter's price. TPO's energy efficiency, metal's wind performance, and modified bitumen's proven simplicity each earn their place depending on the deck, the budget, and how long you plan to hold the building.
Our maintenance plans put inspections, drain clearing, and membrane repairs on a schedule for Lake County buildings — with the documentation trail kept current, which matters at sale time and any time the roof's history gets examined.
The 25% rule
If more than 25% of a roof section is repaired or replaced within 12 months, the whole section must meet current code, unless the roof was built to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later.
Licensing & permits
Commercial roof repairs and installations require a Florida-licensed contractor, and most need a permit from the local building department.
System choice
TPO for energy efficiency; metal for hurricane resistance and lifespan; modified bitumen where the deck calls for it.
Maintenance cadence
Annual and post-storm inspections, clear drains, prompt membrane repairs — where commercial roofs are won or lost.
Gutters, Soffit & Fascia
Gutters, soffit, and fascia do unglamorous work — and in Clermont they take the weather's first hit, every single day.
Fix the contained stuff, replace the far-gone stuff, and bundle edge work with any roof replacement — one mobilization instead of two. Seamless aluminum gutters carry our rainfall with the fewest joints to fail; vinyl soffit and aluminum fascia resist what the air here does to lesser materials.
Soft or spongy fascia
The material underneath is already compromised — past the repair window.
Stains on exterior walls
Water escaping the drainage path and running where it shouldn't.
Sagging, overflowing gutters
Chronic overflow usually means repairs are no longer keeping up.
Rust at the seams
Sectional gutters fail at their joints — seamless aluminum has far fewer of them.
Roof Types We Install in Clermont
Four systems, four honest trade-offs, installed by factory-trained crews to the manufacturer's specification.
Long service lifeMetal
- Wind rating set by the tested product and fastening
- White metal cut cooling energy 23% in Florida Solar Energy Center tests
- Can count toward wind-mitigation credits when installed to current code
About 20 yrsAsphalt Shingle
- Architectural over three-tab, always
- Algae-blocking granules for humidity
- Usually the least expensive to repair after storms
50+ yrsTile
- Clay, concrete, or composite
- Permanence and the Florida look
- Heavy — specialist crews only
Exclusive to UniversalMetlok
- Backed by a 50-year limited lifetime warranty
- Four-way interlocking panel system
- Shake, shingle, slate & barrel profiles
| System | Realistic Florida life | Wind rating (installed right) | Cost tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal (standing seam) | Varies by product; ask for the warranty term | Product-specific; we show you the rating | $$$ | Longevity, storms, energy bills |
| Architectural shingle | About 20 years | Class H shingles: rated for design wind speeds up to 194 mph | $ | Value, fast storm repairs |
| Tile (clay/concrete) | Over 50 years | High, code-driven | $$$ | Permanence, the Florida look |
| Metlok (only at Universal) | 50-year limited lifetime warranty | 180+ mph tested wind rating | $$$ | Longevity, high-wind exposure |
What moves every quote regardless of material: pitch and complexity, the product tier within the material, specialist labor where tile demands it, and structural reinforcement when weight requires it. Florida law also requires insurers to offer premium credits for wind-resistant construction features — a wind mitigation inspection documents what your roof qualifies for.
Want eyes on your roof this week?
Free inspection, honest findings, zero pressure — most end with "you're fine."
How a Project Runs
Every Clermont project follows the same four steps, whether it's a gutter repair or a full replacement.
Free inspection
We walk the roof and attic line, photograph everything, and put findings in writing — yours to keep either way.
Line-by-line estimate
Exactly what's being done, with what materials, for what price — before you sign anything.
The build
Factory-trained crews, manufacturer-spec installation, and a jobsite that gets protected and cleaned.
Final walkthrough
You inspect the finished work with us, get your warranty documentation, and keep every record from the job.
Paying for It
Storm damage doesn't wait for a convenient budget year — and a necessary roof shouldn't have to either.
We offer financing options for qualified homeowners, and every estimate is free and line-by-line transparent. Ask during your free inspection — no obligation either way.
Why Clermont Chooses Universal
Family-owned since 1993 — thousands of completed projects, and a reputation built one roof at a time.
State-licensed (CCC057165 & CBC1258484), fully insured, BBB-accredited with an A+ rating, and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor — a tier held by fewer than 1% of roofing contractors. Factory-trained installers, transparent pricing, free estimates. We also give away a free roof replacement to a local veteran every year — it's who this company has been for thirty years.
Clermont Roofing Questions
How long do roofs last in Clermont?
In Clermont plan on about 20 years from architectural shingle and more than 50 from clay or concrete tile with proper care, based on a National Association of Home Builders study. Metal life depends on the product, so ask for its warranty term. The installer's discipline matters more to those numbers than the brand on the wrapper.
Repair or replace — how do you decide?
Repair when the damage is local and the roof has life left. Replace when wear is systemic — repeating leaks, widespread granule loss, a field past its span. We photograph what we find and put the recommendation on paper, so you're deciding on evidence rather than a pitch.
What should I do right after storm damage?
From the ground: photograph the damage you can see, note when it happened, and check ceilings that night and again in a week. Then get it professionally assessed — we cover Lake County with same-week storm visits, emergency tarping, and written, photographed reports.
Can a handyman repair a roof in Florida?
No. Florida's licensing agency says roof repairs and roof installations require a state license. Verify the license and insurance before hiring anyone. Universal Roof & Contracting is state-licensed (CCC057165 & CBC1258484) and fully insured.
What does a roof replacement cost in Clermont?
It depends on five things: roof size and pitch, tear-off complexity, decking condition once opened, the material system you choose, and the flashing and ventilation details done right. Anyone quoting a number without seeing the roof is guessing. Our estimates are free, line-by-line, and based on an actual inspection.
Is the inspection really free?
Completely. You get the walkthrough, the photographs, and a written condition report at no cost, no strings — the report is yours even if we never hear from you again. Most end with 'you're fine, here's what to watch.'
How long does a roof installation take?
One to three days for most Clermont homes, start to magnet-swept yard. Tile, steep, and cut-up roofs run longer; commercial ranges from days to weeks by size. You get a realistic window before work starts — and a heads-up if weather moves it.
What time of year is best for roof work here?
Roofing runs twelve months a year across Lake County's hill country, but if you can choose, choose fall: cooler working conditions, better material handling, and a finished roof standing before the next storm season opens.
What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?
Under the Florida Building Code, repairing or replacing more than 25% of a roof section within 12 months generally means the whole section must be brought up to current code. Roofs built to the 2007 code or later are exempt: only the repaired part must meet current code.
What is the 25% rule for roofing?
Under the Florida Building Code, repairing or replacing more than 25% of a roof section within 12 months generally means the whole section must be brought up to current code. Roofs built to the 2007 code or later are exempt: only the repaired part must meet current code.
Roofing guides for Clermont homeowners
Nearby areas we serve
Get Your Free Clermont Roof Inspection
Photos, honest findings, and a written condition report — free, and yours to keep either way.
Sources (23)
- Universal Roofing Group, Inc., corporate record P93000013124 · Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Milton (AL142024) · NOAA National Hurricane Center
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017) · NOAA National Hurricane Center
- 2023 Florida Building Code, Existing Building, section 706.1.1 · Florida Building Commission
- DBPR reminds Florida consumers to verify state licenses this hurricane season · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes (mitigation discounts) · The Florida Legislature
- License CCC057165, Certified Roofing Contractor · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- License CBC1258484, Certified Building Contractor · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Orlando International Airport (USW00012815) · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
- QuickFacts: Clermont city, Florida · U.S. Census Bureau
- Algae discoloration of roofs · Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
- Maintaining residential roof systems · National Roofing Contractors Association
- Rating the States: hurricane coast building codes · Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
- Comparative Evaluation of the Impact of Roofing Systems on Residential Cooling Energy Demand in Florida · Florida Solar Energy Center (UCF)
- Using ASTM D7158 where standard conditions do not apply · Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
- Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007) · National Association of Home Builders
- Universal Roof & Contracting contractor profile · Owens Corning
- Owens Corning Launches National Roof Deployment Project (2016) · Owens Corning
- Metlok 50-Year Limited Lifetime Warranty · Metlok
- Metlok disclaimer and specifications · Metlok
- Universal Roof & Contracting reviews · GuildQuality
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- Universal Roof & Contracting business profile · Better Business Bureau